"PARANOIA" AND INVOLVEMENT

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

As an outsider, I cannot adequately comment on the unrest in and debate over Social Sciences 5. However, I am frightened by the description of a "paranoid outlook" among some students. Paranoia is an overworked, rarely understood term. Typically it belongs in clinical diagnostics and even then, I find its use often excessive and unwarranted. More importantly, many psychologists have reminded us that where paranoia is diagnosed, in fact there are phenomena in the environment making the reaction, the outlook somewhat justified.

Racial tension and student involvement in education are profound issues. We must listen to students and not again make the unforgiveable mistake of the late 1950's when some scholars, well worth their salt, watched from a safe distance the changing world of the South and chose to focus on the least significant topic of the time, the psychodynamics of courageous civil rights workers. Thomas J. Cottle   Assistant Professor of Social Relations